Welcome back, Ari! Time for jail!

[frank frankly]

I really hope that Ari and KKKarl get fingered for the CIA outing. I think Tricky Dick will be cooked on Halliburton, and Rummy and Wolfie are going down for other (numerous, perhaps infinite) offenses.

It pissed me off when Ari skirted away from the BFEE right before the heat started. Ari was very important as Press Secretary, and I always thought he would have to come back and answer for the lies he spun so relentlesses.

This CIA story is the story. Democracy needs a KO punch on a couple of the BFEE's big players, immediately.

[madaboutharry]

1. Ari involved?

That is an interesting thought. Josh Marshall brings up the issue of how certain people in the White House would have come by Plames identity in the first place. At the moment, I would think about 10% of this story is out in the public. I can't wait for the other 90%.

[frank frankly]

2. remember how important Ari was?

especially watching his replacement stumble around. ari had style, charisma, moxie...all of which will serve him well in prison.

ari, come back! you aren't just going to walk away.

[frank frankly]

3. a kick for Ari!

I haven't forgotten ya, Ari!

[PaDUer]

16. Karen Hughes...

she jumped ship early..there's LOTS behind her..

[AP]

4. I'd believe that Bush would set up one of the few Jews in his admin-

istration.

As for Rove, I'd bet that he knew it was a felony and he set someone up.

[devinsgram]

5. Did you ever hear

about how the rats always jump ship before it goes down? Well they do.

[frank frankly]

6. a late night kick for Ari fans

should be a rocking PR conference today! i wish you all the worst luck in the world, Scott!

and Joe Wilson on TV, too!

[eileen_d]

7. and a kick for this lovely photo of ari

I hate to even say this, given the CA Recall, but:

http://www.spiegel.de/img/0,1020,151632,00.jpg

"What you talkin bout Willis?"

[Octafish]

10. Is he adopted?

[eileen_d]

11. Yeah, I guess Mussolini was "too ethnic"

LOLOL...:)

[PaDUer]

17. His bride

is going to be so happy...didn't she work in the WH also? Take the entire clan with them. I can't wait until they're ALL led OUT of the WH in HANDCUFFS, and pops also!

[Snazzy]

8. Novak broke story on Ari's last day

I have my thoughts on that remarkable coincidence here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=427388

[frank frankly]

9. you were right then, and you're right now

Ari, you aren't going anywhere. Enjoy your last days of R & R, ya liar.

Nice catch, Snazzy!

[newyawker99]

12. Hi Snazzy!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[frank frankly]

13. a tuesday kick for Ari!

the tide is a'turning!

[tjdee]

14. I was just lamenting the loss of Ari!

Ah, Ari!

Do come back!

I'd not thought of him being implicated at all, or behind this in any way, but it certainly makes sense.

This McClellan guy isn't so good, anyway.

[frank frankly]

15. nobody could spin this avalanche

Ari knew what he was doing when he left.

Now, we get to find out what he was doing BEFORE he left.

[KoKo]

18. Notice how when Ari was Press Sec. that we had daily briefing LIVE/Cable?

When he left....we only see his replacement, McClelland, briefly when Bush has something to push or deny....and it's only in brief segments? I got so sick of Ari......I was glad to see him go....but when he left, I thought....What's Up?

His replacement is "pitiful." He is........if you've seen him.....a fumbling bumbler....maybe it's all they could get and thw word was out.....before we here knew it....that whatever Press Secretary Bush got it would be the "dregs" because no one wanted a job with a failed Pres. Maybe this is good news....but, Ari...ever the opportunist..is waiting for his "talk show" gig where he will make mega bucks ......or maybe it's the "book deal" where he will be set with a multi-million dollar contract for a "tell all" tome.

Whatever.....

[Hippo_Tron]

19. Ari and Karl don't have any OFFICIAL power...

Therefore I don't think they can go to jail for the CIA issue, it was ultimately the president's decission although Karl Rove is LITERALLY Bush's brain. As for Rumsfeld and Wolfowitz I'd rather just see them humiliated than go to jail. If they're out of jail then they can join Newt Gingrich on the lecture circuit and write articles that I can laugh my ass off reading.

[nolabels]

24. Racketeering realy is a crime

http://www.access.gpo.gov/uscode/title18/parti_chapter95_.html
TITLE 18--CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I--CRIMES
CHAPTER 95--RACKETEERING

[dflprincess]

20. Maybe this is why Ari left

He may have caught wind of it and just couldn't go along with it....

LOL sometimes I just crack myself up.

Seriously, though, I'd pick Ari for the role of John Dean in this.

[frank frankly]

21. Ari, Ari, Ari

Ari, you will forever be linked with the BFEE in its final, terrible days.

Perhaps you can begin a new career as a Prisoner Rights Advocate, once they let you out of Gitmo Bay.

Ari, you lied so much! I hope they catch you.

[Starpass]

22. Isn't there like another level of this story???

The names of CIA operatives aren't exactly published in a catalog and distributed around the White House. Only very few people would know actual 'names'. There are those who may know about missions but not names. And the vast majority would know nothing. So the first spilling of the name to others down the line is in itself criminal. Bush or Cheney or Rice are the only ones who would have had names. I have a feeling this orginally came from Bush when he threw a shit fit over Wilson't NYTimes article and the WH soldiers carried out the master's wish. Too bad the punishment isn't death, then maybe some people would be talking. I figure that whomever takes the 'fall', Bush will pardon.

[frank frankly]

23. ...this originally came from Bush

oh I hope that dumb clusterfuck okayed this!

[berry]

25. Pardon and then a "job" with Carlyle or Halliburton, one supposes.

In casting about for people who would know the name of a CIA agent specializing in the area of proliferation of WMD, there are all the ex-CIA people (Poppy even, though my personal un-fav is Woolsey), and all the DoD people who have worked in that policy area (almost everyone, it seems).

And I'll bet they are nasty, snide gossips when they feel safe and surrounded by fellow ideologues. Easy enough to make a vicious remark about the hated Wilson's wife--and hope/plan for that tidbit to be leaked by one of the hearers. Does it count as a leak if you tell it to your cronies, as gossip? I hope that won't be an out for the criminals.